Michael Watson -v- Nigel Benn (1989)

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 24 Apr 2005, 09:44

I believe that Michael Watson's performance & Finsbury Park against Nigel Benn in 1989, was the best execution of tactics I've ever seen in the ring.

Benn was a ferocious buzzsaw type fighter who never stopped trying to tear your head off. Few people gave Watson a chance, but he just cupped his gloves around his face & tucked his elbows in, so that Benn wouldn't have a clean target. He just countered with hooks & jabs & swelled up Benn's face. By the 6th, Benn was so tired & demoralised that Watson knocked him out with a JAB!

This fight rarely gets a mention, but I believe that Watson' performance was one of the finest in ring history. All boxing trainers should show their fighters a copy of this fight. 8)

Does anybody agree?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 24 Apr 2005, 10:12

I've been lambasted many times for saying that Michael Watson was the most talented of the big four of Watson, Benn, Eubank and Collins.

He also took Eubank to school in their 1st fight, and should have been a clear winner, and in their second was beating Eubank yet again before he mistakenly let his guard down for that fateful instant.

But for a moment's confusion (Watson later claimed that he thought the referee was waving the fight off rather than waving the action on), Watson would I think have gone on to become a fantastic fighter. Great shame.

Watson wasn't given a snowball in hell's chance against Benn, but he made a mockery of the odds. I totally agree great example of sticking to a game plan.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 24 Apr 2005, 10:21

I have to agree, Watson was the most talented of them. A very good fighter, who would have achieved so much more, but for his injuries.

Slapsie Maxie · Post by **Slapsie Maxie** » 24 Apr 2005, 10:22

Agreed

I first noticed Watson in any real way when he beat Dangerous Don Lee. I was really impressed with the body punching and the crispness of his work

His record stands up against any of them ( stackhouse, Miller )

One of the few times I called a fight spot on was Vs Benn. I was at a Sales conference and we were all going to watch the fight and all my colleagues ( not fight fans ) saind Benn would kill him. I called it to the round. Perhaps the only time I have.

Losing to McCallum was no shame and, the tragedy aside, he was winning THAT fight

What happened post that made everything else insignificant, but Watson was technically the best of all of that time in the UK

Slapsie

tonyevs · Post by **tonyevs** » 24 Apr 2005, 11:13

Got to agree, Watson was the better fighter and had excellent basic skills.
His problem was he didn`t excite like Benn or irratate like Eubank, both these fighter used these to get noticed.

He only got real exposure just before the 2nd Eubank fight.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 24 Apr 2005, 12:30

Agree with everything said on Michael, a fantastic boxer - not sure if he would have beaten Collins, unfortunately we will never know.

I agree Benn vs Watson was fantastic fight - a few months ago, Bravo showed it full and I had forgotton just how good it was.

On James' point about Watson's injury, unfortunately I believe the damage might have been done before the final blow (even before the KD at the end of the 11th). It must have been a huge dilema for their coach cause all he needed to do was survive the last and he would have won (same with Spencer Oliver). However, in reality he no way should he have gone out for the 12th, I was 11 and said "he's out, he's out". I feel bad because I was a Eubank fan and delighted when the KO happend.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 24 Apr 2005, 12:42

stujones wrote:On James' point about Watson's injury, unfortunately I believe the damage might have been done before the final blow (even before the KD at the end of the 11th).

And some say even earlier than that when he fought Mike McCallum.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 24 Apr 2005, 15:42

Funny thing is, it wasn't that scientific. Keep your hands up and tight and let the nutter punch himself out.

Watson was in tremedous shape though and even though his defence was fantastic he still had to absorb some ferocious shots. Wonderful electric atmosphere, one of British boxings great nights, I still like to get the tape out every now and then....

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 24 Apr 2005, 15:42

I think Benn was unfortunate to get his eye thumbed before the KO against Watson. He wouldn't have been ko'd by that shot if he has full vision. Benn was also unexperienced and punched himself out a bit.

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 24 Apr 2005, 20:23

Was very much looking forward to Benn - Watson as I was of the opinion that Benn was vulnerable against a good boxer who executed the very gameplan that Watson used against Benn. It certainly generated some great excitement at the time

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 24 Apr 2005, 20:24

p.s. Have just found Benn - Anthony Logan on Emule to download. I think this may be the fight where Benn was on the verge of being KO'd when he launched a haymaker from the floor to KO the guy

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 25 Apr 2005, 02:03

Yes, that's the one where Benn is on the receiving end of a 10000 punch combination before landing an absolute corker to pole-axe the bloke from the Carribean.

Slapsie Maxie · Post by **Slapsie Maxie** » 25 Apr 2005, 03:12

one of the great one punch turnarounds ( the other, if I recall rightly was McCallum/Curry )

Came right from the cheap seats.

Whatever you say about Benn, I don't think I have looked forward to fights so much as I did when he was getting in the ring

Only saw him a few times live. The first was when he was on the support of a McGuigan comeback at Ally Pally. Anyone?

Slapsie

Foggy · Post by **Foggy** » 25 Apr 2005, 04:51

Quality fight

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 25 Apr 2005, 04:59

Slapsie Maxie wrote:one of the great one punch turnarounds ( the other, if I recall rightly was McCallum/Curry )

Came right from the cheap seats.

Whatever you say about Benn, I don't think I have looked forward to fights so much as I did when he was getting in the ring

Only saw him a few times live. The first was when he was on the support of a McGuigan comeback at Ally Pally. Anyone?

Slapsie

Yep, McCallum Curry was a real corker, the single best left hook I ever saw. McCallum waits until Curry commits himself with his own right hook, and then snakes a left hook from the left hip. If you watch it in slow motion, you can see the point where curry sees the shot coming, he tries to pull back out of the way, but his momentum carries him forward

The McCallum fight was quite a hammering for Watson, but I've seen far worse, and he sure as hell didn't fight like someone who was damaged goods in the 1st fight with Eubank. The punch Eubank caught him with went from floor to chin, was delivered with full force, and caught Watson flush, the poor bugger never knew anything about it until it landed.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 25 Apr 2005, 05:07

Slapsie Maxie wrote: Only saw him a few times live. The first was when he was on the support of a McGuigan comeback at Ally Pally. Anyone?

Slapsie

I was there for that one - chimes of Big Ben for his entrance, then back in black I think....
Best Benn fight I saw live was against Logan at the Albert Hall - out on his feet and back from the brink with one punch.

While the Watson result was a great one, you can't call it one of the greatest of all time - not by a long shot. UK maybe....but not world.

Watson's tactics were compared to Ali's rope-a-dope at the time.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 25 Apr 2005, 13:44

Slapsie Maxie wrote:one of the great one punch turnarounds ( the other, if I recall rightly was McCallum/Curry )

That was classic Benn that shot. Another great come from behind shot I shall never forget was Weaver v Tate.

Slapsie Maxie wrote:Whatever you say about Benn, I don't think I have looked forward to fights so much as I did when he was getting in the ring

I agree 100% I was always hyperactive and a bag of nerves during a Benn fight. I still miss those nights. I am hoping Hatton v Tszyu will give me a simular buzz though.

Slapsie Maxie wrote:Only saw him a few times live. The first was when he was on the support of a McGuigan comeback at Ally Pally. Anyone?

I had the pleasure of seeing Benn live a few times Benn v Eubank 1 & 2, Malinga 1 and Gimmernez.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 25 Apr 2005, 16:03

Watson - an excellent fighter technically.

Benn - my favourite boxer of my time. Only saw him live twice though - v G Man and Wharton. Don't think I ever missed a fight of his that was carried on telly. Used to make a whole night around it.

dandantheweatherman · Post by **dandantheweatherman** » 25 Apr 2005, 16:46

Regarding Watson-Benn, I cleaned up betting on this at school - no-one thought Benn could lose. Going to school the day after was good. Apart from the GCSE exams I had that day.

Anyway, what I really wanted to post was regarding McCallum-Watson; they were supposed to meet Nov 1989 but Ray Webb broke Watson's nose sparring and caused a postponement. I just wonder what would have happened had the fight taken place in Nov 1989......

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 25 Apr 2005, 17:07

the same thing. McCallum was possibly most underrated and avoided middleweight of his era. None of the main men at light middle or middle wanted anything to do with him. It's well known Hearns and Hagler didn't want any part of a fight with McCallum, and he used to give Hearns murders in their days at Kronk. He had it all, ring smarts, technical ability, a rock solid chin, and more that decent power. Its a shame he never got a tilt at hagler, because I think he would have made a terrific fight of it. Good as Watson was, he just wasn't experienced enough to deal with an all rounder like McCallum.

Gary_V · Post by **Gary_V** » 25 Apr 2005, 18:34

This fight actually did Benn some good as well. It brought him down to earth and made him pace himself. Think his ego musta been massive conming into this fight! Watch his entrance...

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 25 Apr 2005, 18:41

i think it came at a good time in his career, whilst he was still young enough to go away, make some changes, and come back a better fighter, which he did. He never became a great all rounder, but he improved his flaws and developed a bit more defence, and more importantly learned to pace himself.

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 25 Apr 2005, 23:34

Gary_V wrote:This fight actually did Benn some good as well. It brought him down to earth and made him pace himself. Think his ego musta been massive conming into this fight! Watch his entrance...

Can't remember the exact details but remember thinking Watson would win based on nothing but the ring entrance

dandantheweatherman · Post by **dandantheweatherman** » 26 Apr 2005, 00:40

I seem to remember Benn saying something about his pony tail being pulled back so tight it helped his face swell up.

Anyway, what I really wanted to say is I think James is quite right and McCallum would always have beaten Watson. I couldn't beleive McCallum got beat by Kalambay though, and if Herol Graham hadn't had a point deducted he'd have won. McCallum was a great fighter no doubt about it, but he had some close shaves...

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 26 Apr 2005, 04:45

Benn - Anthony Logan. Benn was lucky he didn't a "KO by 2" against his name after this one

s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3CZXF642GP64G3J1N8ESGFFW3F